Effect of a home-based isometric handgrip training programme on systolic blood pressure in adults: A randomised assessor-blinded trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of 20 weeks of home-based isometric handgrip training (IHT) compared with usual care on systolic blood pressure (SBP) in adults.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a randomised, controlled, assessor-blinded trial. Participants were randomised to either IHT (intervention group) or usual care (control group).

INTERVENTIONS: Participants randomised to the intervention group performed a session of 16 min of effective workout home-based IHT three times per week for 20 weeks. Participants randomised to the control group were asked to continue their daily activities as usual.

OUTCOMES: The primary outcome was the difference in SBP between groups over 20 weeks. Secondary outcomes were diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, handgrip strength, and self-administered home blood pressure measures.

RESULTS: Forty-eight adults (mean [SD] age, 64 [8] years) were included in this trial. The adjusted between-group mean difference in SBP was 8.12 mmHg (95% CI 0.24 to 16.01, p  = 0.04) - favouring the usual care group. No differences between groups were found in any of the home blood pressure measurements.

CONCLUSIONS: This trial showed that 20 weeks of home-based isometric handgrip training was not superior compared to the usual care in lowering SBP.